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Alberta lawyer Jeffrey Rath and his wife sold a waterfront estate on Galiano Island, British Columbia, for $6.6 million in July 2021 — more than $4 million above what they originally paid — while his firm was actively fighting a court order to refund millions of dollars to a First Nation client, according to a Global News investigation.
The Galiano Island Estate Sale
Rath and his wife, Dayna Laverick-Rath, purchased two Galiano Island properties between 2006 and 2008 for a combined $2.49 million. Together, the lots formed Blue Raven Estate, a 9.4-acre waterfront compound with a nearly 5,000-square-foot main house, two guest houses, two deep-water docks, a helipad, and a private four-hole golf course. The estate first listed for $8.58 million in December 2018. The couple eventually sold it in July 2021 for $6.6 million — $2 million below asking, but $4.11 million above their original purchase prices.
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The sale came just months after an Alberta judge ordered Rath’s firm to refund $8.5 million in legal fees to Tallcree First Nation. Rath appealed that ruling. Meanwhile, within weeks of the Galiano sale, he transferred his interest in the couple’s $1.7-million Calgary home to Laverick-Rath for a stated price of $1. Three months later, she received a $10-million collateral mortgage over three properties at his Foothills ranch.
Tallcree First Nation’s Ongoing Legal Fight
Five years after the original court order, Tallcree is still pursuing the refund. Chief Rupert Meneen is suing Rath and his firm, RathPC, for nearly $15 million. The claim covers the $8.5-million refund and millions in disputed administration fees. Tallcree has now asked a court to expand an investigative receiver’s powers to seize assets and recover funds directly.
A 2019 letter, recently filed in court, shows Rath promised Tallcree beneficiaries that his firm would charge no trustee fees. However, RathPC later billed the trust millions. In March 2019, beneficiaries voted 59–32 to keep Rath as trustee after he stated his firms “do not charge a fee for acting as Trustee.” When questioned in September about the absence of time records to justify $4.8 million in fees, Rath said he stopped tracking hours in February 2018. He insisted his earlier statement had been “true at the time” and denied misleading beneficiaries.
Silver Coins and Financial Scrutiny
An Alberta court has frozen Rath’s assets under a Mareva injunction and appointed an investigative receiver to trace disputed funds. Silver Gold Bull, a precious-metals platform, received most of the $8.5 million ordered refunded to Tallcree, while Rath continued trading through the platform. Among the transactions under review are approximately $200,000 worth of silver coins. Rath testified he gave the coins to Laverick-Rath as a Christmas Eve gift in 2025. However, purchase records show roughly $100,000 worth were bought after Christmas, on December 27 and January 7. Laverick-Rath died in June, and requests for her will and probate records remain unanswered.
Horse Creditors and Rejected Court Application
In September, Rath asked a court to unfreeze nearly $800,000 for personal and legal expenses, including almost $280,000 for horse-related bills. He warned his horses’ health and safety were “in peril.” However, several creditors told Global News their bills had gone unpaid for more than a year — well before any asset freeze. Trainer Judy Hicks said Rath had never been fully paid during the two years his horses stayed at her Kentucky farm. Justice Lorena Harris rejected Rath’s application, finding his financial disclosures “materially incomplete.” Beyond the courtroom, the Alberta Prosperity Project removed Rath from his roles in October, and the United Conservative Party expelled him on October 29. Rath disputes both decisions and accuses Premier Danielle Smith’s office of orchestrating a media campaign against him.
